Apr 25, 2006

Woolworth Building New York (recto)

Woolworth Building New York (recto)

1917

Part of a set. See all set records

Gustave Baumann

(American, born Germany, 1881–1971)

Watercolor, framing lines in graphite

Image: 35.7 x 28.8 cm (14 1/16 x 11 5/16 in.); Sheet: 43.6 x 34.9 cm (17 3/16 x 13 3/4 in.)

Gift of Ann Baumann 2005.468.a

Location

Description

The Woolworth Building, designed by architect Cass Gilbert, rose 792 feet, making it the tallest building in the world between 1913 and 1930, when the Empire State Building assumed the honor. The Woolworth Building won widespread acclaim for its pioneering steel-frame structure and stunning appearance. Baumann depicts the glistening white skyscraper, a symbol of America’s prosperity, ingenuity, and optimism, illuminated by bright sunshine against a clear blue sky. The graphite framing lines indicate how the scene would be cropped to emphasize the building when translated into a color woodcut, but the print was never made.

See also
Department: 
Drawings
Type of artwork: 
Drawing
Credit line: 
Gift of Ann Baumann

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